RAID AT HUNTLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 9

RAID AT HUNTLY.

POLICE COURT CHARGES. TWENTY-TWO MEN ARRAIGNED INCITING AND THEET ALLEGED FIVF, ANSWER MAJOR INDICTMENT. (By Teli-grar.li.—Own Correspondent.) HUNTLY, this day.

Twenty-two men appeared at a special sitting of the Huntly Police Court this morning on charges arising out of the raid by unemployed on the Farmers' Trading Company's store at Huntly last Thursday. Of the 22 men charged six were Maoris, and only one other was a New Zealander. Mr. F. H. Levieu, S.M., was on the Bench. The ease for the police was conducted by Detective Sergeant McHugh, of Auckland, and the accused were represented by counsel.

The men charged with inciting lawlessness and theft were David Fuller, miner (32), Australian; Albert Allen, miner (32), England; Baymond Richards, miner (32), England; Joseph Bincham, mirier (50), England; and James Sterling, miner.

The following were cnarged that, on May 19, at Huntly, they stole groceries valued at £10, the property of the Farmers' Trading Company: Sutherland Peden, miner (23), Scotland; Henry Fehsenfeld, miner (25), New Zea.land; John Scott Moodie, miner (27), Scotland; Evan David Davies, miner (25), Wales; Idris Davies, miner (22), Wales; Robert Kaweroa, labourer (23), New Zealand; Heta Tarawhiti, labourer (24), New Zealand; Peter Raumati (24), New Zealand. Thos. Morgan, miner, 44), England; Gray Karena, labourer (21), New Zealand; Jos. Berryman, labourer (21), New Zealand; Taiki Whin, labourer (20)/New Zealand; Brynley Kinson, miner (43), Wales; Edward Green, miner (30), Wales; Francis George Stevens, miner (45), England; Horatio Swindells, miner (47), England; James Moyes, miner (50), Scotland.

A crowd which gathered outside the Courthouse was not allowed in the small courtroom, which was overcrowded with the accused men and officials.

Not for many a day lias so much interest been aroused by a Court case in Huntly. All through the morning a crowd swarmed round the courthouse, and dozens sat in the sun on the railway bridge.

The charge of theft was brought under the Crimes Act and was indictable, the maximum penalty being twelve months in gaol and reformative detention not exceeding three years. The charge of inciting to lawlessness was brought under the Police Offences Act, and the minimum is three' months' imprisonment. It was decided to deal with the theft charges first. Procession to Store.

Detective Sergeant McHugh gave an outline of the raiding of the Farmers' store and said evidence would be called to show that at a meeting of unemployed in the morning it had been decided to go to the store and ask for credit. A procession marshalled by five leaders marched to the store. The manager, _ Mr. Northmore, was asked for credit, and when he refused Bingham asked for a show of hands of those who were prepared to help themselves. Then lootiu'g began. The manager of the Huntly branch of the Farmers' Trading Company, Mr. W. H. Northmore, stated in evidence that on the morning of May 19 a meeting was held in the Lyceum Theatre. The meeting broke up just after 12 o'clock. Witness saw a procession of men and women leave the theatre and the tail end moved into his store. There was a crowd of between 70 and 80. "I moved to the centre of the store, where I met Bincham, Sterling, Richards, Fuller and Allen," said witness. "I said, 'What's the big idea?' They then asked if I would extend them credit to the extent of £50 and charge it to the Waikato Hospital Board. I told them that was against the law, and I had no authority to adopt that course. I told the leaders that there was a lot of talk about women and children starving. I appealed to the crowd and asked if there was anyone hungry or starving. Nobody answered. I told them that if anyone was starving they could leave orders and I would send them goods in the afternoon. Not a name was left, and no reply was made. I suggested that I should see the rest of the business people and see what could be done and meet them at 2 o'clockThreat to Take Gooffs. I

"When I told them that I would not give them credit," the witness proceeded, "Richards said, 'We will take goods ourselves.' Bincham made a similar threat. Kinson and Swindells were in support of tue idea of leaving the store and returning at two o'clock. I told the executive that I would not give credit. Bincham said, 'Hands up those who will help themselves.' There was a show of hands, and without further talk Sterling went behind t.le counter. Bincham also pushed past me and started to help himself. Then the crowd started, but a big number stood by and looked on. Looting was going on all the time. 1 said to Bincham, 'For God's sake, Joe, put the goods back. The laws of New Zealand won't allow thai.' I appealed to them, but they took no notice."

Witness detailed the goods he saw stolen by Sterling and Bincham.. He had not seen Fuller steal anything. Fuller got behind the counter, but his wife called him back. Maoris helped themselves. Parcels which were made up ready to go out to customers were missing. Rations or Sustenance. Before the looting began, witness said, ho told the crowd that the Hospital Board had offered work at 12/ a day for married men and (>/ for single men, and that they ought to be pleased to be out in the sunshine. Davis said to witness, "You never worked for 12/ a day in your life." Allan said they did not want work, they wanted rations or sustenance, just as other hospital boards gave. The five men charged with inciting to lawlessness were the men he spoke to. Witness mentioned many of the men who had been in his store. The only two men he knew had definitely taken goods were Bincham and Sterling. Goods had been anonymously returned to the store, and some Maoris returned goods to the home of witness. Counsel Cross-examines. In reply to counsel for the five men charged with inciting, Mr. Northmore said that apart from looting the conduct of the men was good. Nothing was broken and there was no suggestion that the manner of the men was violent. Witness said he had previously given unemployed men credit to the extent of £150, but that money had been paid back.

Lengthy cross-examination by both counsel followed, in which witness stated that goods to the value of between £7 10/ and £10 had been stolen, while goods valued at about £2 10/ had been returned.

Telephone Not Used. Corroborative evidence of what took place in file store was given by David Harry Ruston, an assistant in the shop, who said that he saw several pakehas taking goods. Bertha Attrill, bookkeeper in the Farmers' store, said she saw Allen and Bincham leading a procession into the shop. Witness locked the money away in the office, and when she came out she heard men ask for credit. When that was refused, they said they would help themselves.

"I came to the door of the office to use the telephone to ring the police, but live men were standing by," said witness. "One was Moodie. I don't know whether they were there to prevent me using the telephone. I did not attempt to use the telephone." Sugar Bags Used.

Witness said she saw Maoris take goods out to the back of the shop and take goods away in sugar sacks, and she identified Allen. Bincham, Sterling, Kinson, Moodie, Fuller, Swindells, Stevens and the two Davies as were in the shop on the .day of the looting. The only man she saw taking goods was Sterling. Hospital Board Attitude.

Another assistant in the shop, Ivy Fleming, said the only man 6he had seen with goods was Allen, who had some bacon wrapped up in white paper. Five of the accused, Moodie, Swindles, Fuller, Allen and one of the Davies, were identified by witness.

The local representative of the Waikato Hospital Board, George Smith, said that following several deputations from the Huntly Unemployed Association, asking for assistance other than that received on ordinary relief, he placed the men's request before the board. In accordance with the board's policy he told the men that all the board could offer them was a day's work at 12/ for married men. Proud to he a Communist.

Detective A. G. McWhirter, Auckland, said he had seen Fuller and Allen after the disturbance. " Allen told me he was a Communist, and proud of it," said witness. He said he was not going - to see women and children starving, and that he was sick of existing conditions. He also said he would welcome going to gaol with other officers.

Police officers, said witness, interviewed a number of the accused. Some admitted going into the shop and taking groceries. Green had said he had not taken any groceries, but had merely gone to see the fun.

A description of interviews with a number of the accused was given by Detective A. Moore, who said some of the men admitted taking goods. Statements made by accused to the police were outlined by Acting Detective J. Hayes, Auckland. To Prevent Stealing.

Detective Sergeant McHugh said Kinson and Swindells had stated that they had gone to the store to try and prevent men from stealing anything. Most of the Maoris admitted what they had done and said they had been led into it by pakehas. Goods had been returned the same night by Eichards, Bincham, Raumati, Berryman and Tiaki Wliiu.

At the end of the evidence for the prosecution, counsel for the five men charged with inciting, said they elected to be dealt with summarily, and counsel for the other seventeen agreed. The five charged with inciting indicated that they would plead not guilty to that charge. (Proceeding.)